Abstract [en]

Social sustainability is a multidimensional concept in which safety is one of the dimensions, and is an important factor in creating a good quality of life. The public space is a key factor in a healthy and well-functioning city. A good environment is a source for motivating citizens to better health and wellness. Public space also has a great impact on safety, good urban planning is essential to create a good environment to live in. High level of safety also creates the conditions for achieving socially sustainable development.

The driving forces behind this study is that the public space is an important place where everybody will be welcomed and feel safe. The public space creates the opportunity for social relations, exchange of knowledge and constitute an important function in society. The publicspace should protect and promote the citizen, and the citizen must take care and show respect for the public space. Thus, this study aims to investigate young people's experience of publicspace in relation to social sustainability and safety.

The method used in the study is a quantitative approach, questionnaires have been distributed to high school students in Stenungssund. The survey ended with the possibility for respondents to mark on a map of Stenungsund the places they feel secure, insecure and like.

The results of the study show that young people in Stenungsund generally feel safe in public spaces. However, there are differences between how girls and boys experience safety. Boys feel increasingly confident than girls do. Students in different grades also tend to experience safety differently. The markings on the map thus showed a common understanding of what places are experienced as both secure, insecure and liked.